Chelsea trounced Manchester United 6-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon as Emma Hayes’ side landed their fifth consecutive Women’s Super League title, and their seventh with the manager. Their title rivals Manchester City won 2-1 at Aston Villa, meaning Chelsea were well ahead on goal difference, and Hayes and captain Millie Bright reflected on a “special” triumph.
Emma Hayes proclaimed that her “legacy is winning” after securing her fifth consecutive Women’s Super League title in her last game as Chelsea manager.
Hayes will move to the United States where she is set to take over as the coach of the US women’s national team after an outstanding period of success with Chelsea.
She has seven WSL titles, five FA Cups and two League Cups to her name in her time with The Blues, and a 6-0 win at Manchester United on Saturday saw her side pip rivals Manchester City to the title.
The 47-year-old is viewed by many as the best manager to have graced the WSL going by her track record, and she told Sky Sports that this title was her toughest yet.
At Old Trafford, she said: “What a wonderful performance today. I picked a team of leaders from the beginning. It was essential we had the emotional maturity for a stadium as fitting as this.
“I can’t say it is my most enjoyable but it has been the toughest; for that reason probably the sweetest. I am so relieved it is over.
“I have great memories, listening to the fans, the connection with the players. I haven’t got any more to give, I know that much.
“The hardest thing to do is five in a row as people take their eye off the ball.
“My legacy is winning while building a team for the future.”
Hayes added: “My favourite moment [at Chelsea] was the first FA Cup final.
“My memories aren’t always that clear. It is so overwhelming.”
She reflected on the scale of her achievement, and how far she had taken women’s football, saying: “To finish here at Old Trafford, I hope to get a glass of wine with Sir Alex [Ferguson] in a minute. So many told us we couldn’t, girls can’t play and we can’t fill stadiums. Not only have we done that but we are making sure we are filling it up every week.”
Chelsea captain Millie Bright was delighted to have claimed the title.
She said: “It was pretty special but when half the country writes you off… we’ve got the monster mentality, we’ve shown it season after season.
“We were given a second chance, they don’t often but you have to take them and we did. We beat Bristol City, beat Tottenham and we’ve come here and put on a five-star performance to take this title.”
Bright was full of praise for Hayes, explaining: “It’s extra special to get it for Emma and the players who are leaving us.
“We were up against a tough opponent and we needed a 10-out-of-10 performance. Every player was incredible.
“That’s our standards, we shouldn’t be underestimated to make this sort of comeback because we’re defending champions.
“It’s been an emotional season for Emma especially. We picked her up [after the recent defeat at Liverpool] like she does for us every day.”
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